Japan Polished Diamond Imports $60 Mln in September

Japan’s polished diamond imports in September totaled $59.91 million, a 14.3 percent year-over-year decline. By volume, imports rose 5.1 percent to 186,253 carats, bringing the average value down to $322 per carat.

India, Japan’s leading supplier, shipped 142,739 carats at a value of $20.13 million, an average of $141 p/c. This represents a 12.5 percent rise in volume compared to September 2007 and a 19.7 percent decline in value.

Imports from Belgium totaled 17,083 carats (+13%) worth $14.47 million (-10.4%).

By value, imports from Israel and Thailand were on the upswing, while declining in volume, bucking the general trend.

In the first nine months of the year, Japans imports increased 5.2 percent in volume to 1,766,810 carats, while shrinking in value 10.3 percent to $596 million.